Arizona State Coach Kenny Dillingham Holds Kicking Tryouts on October 19
- Arizona State football has struggled with its kicking game, failing to make a field goal in three consecutive games.
- Head coach Kenny Dillingham announced open tryouts for student kickers after a loss to Cincinnati, emphasizing the need for improvement.
- This initiative highlights the urgency to improve the team's scoring options, particularly in clutch situations late in games.
In the context of college football, Arizona State's kicking game has drawn significant criticism following three consecutive games without a successful field goal. After a disappointing 24-14 loss to Cincinnati, head coach Kenny Dillingham expressed his frustration, labeling their kicking efforts as 'atrocious.' He called for open tryouts for anyone capable of kicking a field goal, inviting students to participate. This move reflects the urgency to bolster the team's kicking positions, especially after kicker Ian Hershey struggled with key attempts late in the game. Hershey, with a currently low success rate on field goals, was expected to perform better. The team's inquiry into the student body for potential kickers has historical precedence, showing that college football programs have occasionally recruited students who demonstrated apt kicking ability during casual trials. As Dillingham looks to rectify the situation, the upcoming tryouts on a Monday signify a critical step towards potentially finding a new talent to improve the team's performance late in games, ensuring they secure more scoring opportunities in the future.